Beech G35 accident near Chico, California, December 29, 1982
On December 29, 1982 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Beech G35, registered N4428D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chico, California (Chico Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1982 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Chico, California · Chico Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4428D · registry record · serial D4551
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM ARCATA, CA TO SACRAMENTO, CA WITH EN ROUTE STOPS AT REDDING, RED BLUFF AND CHICO. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND AT CHICO, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK ELEMENTS OF THE LOCALIZER ANTENNA DURING A FORCED LANDING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH TWO MAIN FUEL TANKS AND TWO AUXILIARY TANKS. THE AUXILIARY TANKS WERE PLACARDED FOR USE IN LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY. THE RIGHT MAIN TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY, THE LEFT MAIN WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS UNABLE TO REMEMBER WHICH FUEL TANK WAS BEING USED DURING THE APPROACH. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE "OFF" POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY GIVEN A TEST RUN AND OPERATED NORMALLY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,056 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,970 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,936 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 212 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Reo Bluff at 2:40 pm
- Destination: CIC Chicago CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,724 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:00 pm, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.